Yep, in preparing for our move, I've been digging through lots and lots of old papers and such. Every once in a while, I come across little gems like this one. I apparently started several different short stories and such. Most of the not all that great, though a couple of them have good premises. But most remain unfinished. But occasionally I run across something like this one that I did finish and is good!
Now when I say "good," I don't necessarily mean according to what I can do today. This was long before I started writing professionally. So I'm going to retype this, flaws and all, though I'll correct any typos and grammar errors I find as I go.
But one thing this confirms for me is that all my life I've been a writer. I know of stuff I wrote as a teen in high school and college. But I didn't realize just how much I'd written in the other times. Most of it I had forgotten about.
One note on this play. It was originally written to be presented in a church setting. If anyone reads this, and wants to use it for that purpose, be my guest. But it will, as a result, have a more overt gospel presentation in it.
So with that, I present to you, my Christmas play, "It Was the Night Before Christmas, and Everyone was Stirring!"
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Narrator: This is a story about a family on Christmas Eve. A time of joy, relaxation, and fun. Or is it? Let's look in on this family and see.
Be prepared to sing with us when the hymns numbers are announced. And now, I introduce to you, "It Was the Night Before Christmas, and Everyone Was Stirring!"
Scene: Opens with Dad sitting in his recliner reading the newspaper. Other living room decor can be used to give the appearance of a living room in a typical house. After a few seconds, two of his children, between the ages of 7 and 10 come running in and stop in front of him.
Son 1: Daddy, could you tell us the Christmas story? Pleasssssse!
Dad: Well, I'm a little busy right now.
Son 2: Pleeeeeease, Daddy! We want to hear it!
Dad: Why don't you ask your mom to read it to you?
Son 1: She told us to ask you.
Dad: (with exasperation), Oh, okay. (Yells to his wife), Honey, where is the Christmas Story book?
Mom: (pokes her head out the kitchen doorway) I lent it to our pastor, I didn't think we would need it. (Ducks back into doorway)
Dad: Well, maybe I can tell it from memory. (Kids get excited.) Once upon a time, there was a big fat man who lived at the North Pole--
Son 2: No, no, Daddy. Not the Santa Claus story. The real story, about Jesus.
Dad: Oh, well, I guess I will need a Bible for that. (Yells to his wife.) Honey, where is the family Bible?
Mom: (pokes her head out the doorway.) Probably among all of your other books. Now quit bothering me. I'm trying to fix dinner. (Ducks back into the kitchen.)
Dad: (He walks over behind stage and begins to pull several books out from behind a "wall". Finally he comes to a big Bible.) Ah ha! I found it! (He blows the dust off of it as he walks back to his recliner.) Let's see, (he opens the Bible up) I think the story is in 1 Kings.
Son 1: No dad, it's in Luke. Chapter 2.
Dad: (Somewhat sarcastically) I knew that. I wanted to see if you both knew that or not. (Opens the Bible to the table of contents.) Looks like that would be page 1057. Wow, a long book. (He flips some more pages until he reaches the page number.) In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree--
(At this time, their teenage son runs across stage and into the kitchen. Dad gets distracted and stops reading. In a few seconds, the teen runs back across stage, headed to the "front door.")
Dad: Whoa, son. Where are you going?
Teen: I'm going to the Church Christmas party. Mom said I could. (He points toward the kitchen.)
Dad: Well, you haven't asked me.
Teen: Well, can I?
Dad: No! Sit down, I'm reading the Christmas story.
Teen: But I've heard that story a thousand times. And besides, they will probably tell it at the party tonight anyway.
Dad: It doesn't matter, I only do this once a year, and now is it. Besides, this is a family event; so sit!
Teen: (dejected and frustrated) Oh, okay. (He walks over to the "front door" and opens it. He yells to his friends in the car.) Sorry, I can't go tonight. Bye. (He waves his hand. Then he comes over and sits with his head in his hands appearing sad.)
Dad: All right. (Looks back to the Bible and says in a monotone voice) In those days . . .
(After a few sentences a knock on the door sounds out.)
Dad: Now who could that be? (He walks over to the door and opens it. Several teens enter the room with their youth pastor.)
Y.M.: Hi Mr. --use a name of someone from the congregation--, we thought that since --teens name-- could not go to the party, we would bring the party to him. (He gives the signal for everyone to begin singing. The congregation joins him at this point singing, "Deck the Halls.")
Dad: (After the song is over, says) You might as well take over. I'm sure not getting anything going.
(Youth Minister now leads the congregation in singing a couple of Christmas Hymns)
Church Teen 1: Once upon a time, there was a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem. However, this was no ordinary baby because his father was not Joseph who Mary was betrothed to, but God Himself. This baby was named Jesus and He was the Gift of God to the world. Jesus was born to die upon a cross so that we all might walk in newness of life as He walked. For this reason, we give gifts to one another. Jesus gave us life. What gift shall we give Him?
Church teen 2: Let's pray. Our loving Father, how wonderful a gift was given to us on that first Christmas morning. You, yourself, healed their sicknesses, loved the unlovable, fed the hungry, taught the wandering sheep, and forgave the repentant sinner. How wonderful a gift was given, our very own souls. Our very own life. Let us therefore rejoice at your birth, and let us give of ourselves to You. For the only gift that we can bring of any value to You is our complete dedication: our lives for Your service. Thank you for this season, this family, and your gift to us, Jesus Christ. Now, let's go and not only give gifts to each other, but you also. In Jesus' name, Amen.
(The Youth Minster and teens start to shake hands with each other and to leave.)
Mom: (Pokes her head into the room and says:) Come and Eat! (Then quickly ducks back in.)
Teen Group in unison: Eat! (Everyone runs into the kitchen with the family until the stage is empty.)
Mom: (In a couple of seconds stomps out of the kitchen and onto the stage looking angry. Stops center stage and faces audience.) How many times have I told my husband not to invite company over with discussing it with me first! (Begins to walk toward the "front door" On her way off stage, she says:) I'm going out to eat!
The End
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